Fresno Chaffee Zoo Reviews

Our local zoo is always a good time. Would recommend it to anyone!!! Wear good shoes and bring your H2O bottles.

The zoo has really improved. Great place for an afternoon date. Love the new Savanna exhibit, and food court with adult beverages.

The updated areas for the animals is just amazing. I go every year for my birthday, with my Great nephews (both 4 years old) and although they frequent the Zoo often, they are still excited every time they show me around.

I have lived in Fresno my whole life. Fresno Chaffey zoo had made great improvements. A great time for adults or adults with children of all ages. The restaurant is simple yet delicious. With pricing within reason. I recommend the garlic fries.

This just use to be a little local zoo that I visited since I was a child and over the years it has expanded with so many amazing new exhibits. African Adventure, Sea Lion Cove, and Stingray Bay are a few definitely worth experiencing. Zoorassic Park is a new limited time exhibit that is open May 2019. Can't wait to go see it!

The zoo has always been a fun place for me and my family. It can be tough at times because I have five kids and they’re all very young . They’ve made a lot of new changes and Chaffee zoo was very accommodating for families. I would definitely go back.

Sure not the zoo I went to when I was a kid. They have done a wonderful job with the zoo. Very interactive for the kids and very enjoyable for adults. A must see when you are in Fresno or even if you live in Fresno.

We loved the sea lion exhibit for the multiple ways to see the animals.
Nice Rocky pool with views of swimming from above, and around the back a wall if glass to see them swimming below the surface.

Great place to take the whole family to enjoy. See the sea Lion Cove the sting rays and feed the giraffes.

This is a great zoo that gives you a relaxing in the well laid out zoo with natural and picturesque views of animals and fauna. Guided tours and very informative talks available in different languages.

This is fun to go to with family and/or friends!! It is not the best zoo I have been to but we definitely enjoyed seeing all of the animals. Feeding the giraffes was my favorite part

Fresno Zoo has improved significantly. It's huge and beautiful! I found out it is the 3rd largest zoo in California. I highly recommend it and a must visit while in Fresno...

We have really improved our zoo and love the African exhibit. Safari night here is a must in September. Behind the scenes is so informative for adults and kids. The bird show is worth the watch! Kopi Lodge has good food too!

It's been a while since my last visit to the zoo. While fun, it's not exactly something I would get excited about. I was completely amazed by the huge improvements they've made there.
The Africa exhibit is spectacular and getting a chance to feed the giraffes was super cool. Was not expecting anything close to this level especially here in Fresno. They did a great job on their food concessions too. Great variety and really good too. Again something I wasn't expecting and now a viable lunch/dinner option for the family.
If you haven't been here in a while, check it out and prepare to be wowed.

Awful. The parking lot was ridiclously full. There was no regulations at all. They'll let you in even if there was no parking and the lines to the entrance was really long. It was so long that there are food vendors or carts to buy just to wait for the line. My husband and I (and others before us that paid parking) could not park and ended up leaving. A waste of mobey,gas and time.

We go to the Zoo early in the morning and spend the entire day taking in the relaxing sounds and atmosphere. The place is very well kept and it seems that every keeper and staff had a huge smile and was very enthusiastic to answer any questions that we could throw at them. The African Safari is King for us. The setting gives you the true feel of being in the wilds of Africa watching all the animals in their habitats.
If haven't tried the food its a must.

My husband and I came out here just to do something different. It was a Hot day but hey it was fun. I loved seeing all the different Animals. And don’t forget to get a Churro while your there So good

Visited to find a thoughtfully themed Zoo Park with large areas for animals and birds. Interestingly themed food offerings to zoo areas. Keepers were friendly and informative, the animals appeared well cared for the premises well managed and clean. Only managed to get half way around due to extreme heat but intend to return to visit Africa before we return to the UK

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a world class zoo and the new African area sets the standard for every zoo in the country to follow. Once all of the upgrades are complete this will be the premier zoo in the country! I LOVE the Fresn Chaffee Zoo

Took our 3 year old granddaughter to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo during the Christmas time. It was a great experience. She loved petting the goats and chasing the chickens around. Also she loved feeding the giraffe, a little hesitant at first, but loved it. The African Safari adventure is truly a great place to watch the animals and get a very good lunch. Our son who grew up here and went to the zoo when he was young was blown away by the great set up of the African Safari. We were there at feeding time for the lions, very fun to watch the trainers interact with the lions. We were there for a short visit, but paln on going back. Be sure to bring a camera to get some pictures of the animals

Has so much potential but I don’t think our city cares enough. Food is way to overpriced and it’s too hot to go during the day.

The Zoo in Fresno has grown so much. All the new attractions. It’s like a whole new place. So fun for the family. So relaxing. The animals are great I watch and the Staff will educate you while you watch. They know so much and are so friendly.
This is a must see.

Fresno is Chaffee zoo is not in the most desirable part of Fresno however the zoo is very nice they been doing a lot of improvements lately with all the normal large zoo animals in pretty realistic natural settings a petting zoo And A tidal Pool zone where kids can pet small harmless sea creatures.

I have been coming to the Fresno Zoo since I was child, and has always been a favorite zoo to go to. It has so many hands on experiences for people of all ages. One of the best is learning about giraffs and feeding them.

I visited this park as a child so it was very refreshing to see that it had stood the test of time and was thriving. Many attractions and adding. A great park for children as many of animals are easily viewable for little people. Be sure to bring your walking shoes because this zoo is much larger than it appears from the outside. Parking was good. Snacks and various food items was reasonable.

We were here for a visit and saw this was one of the top places to go. We were very disappointed. So much was closed. The ENTIRE section of Asia exhibits was under renovation. They said “possibly February” for being done. This was half the zoo. There were other exhibits closed too (such as flamingos, birds of prey, and the tropical rainforest exhibits)! The Africa section was open and very nice, but it seems there could be more animals in there (only 2-3 of each type of animal in most cases). The giraffes were the best part. They had many more of them than most animals, and you could get up close and feed them (for a $5 fee). The seals and sea lions were also fun to watch. I would definitely wait until they are done with the Asia renovations before going!

My husbands brother came to visit after living in Alaska for the last 30 years so we thought we should take him to see how much the Fresno Chaffee Zoo has changed since we were kids. He was totally impressed with the zoo. He called his son in Phoenix Az and told him they really need to come for a visit and make sure you visit the Fresno Zoo.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a gem. One of the best Zoos we have visited. The new African adventure is a wonderful addition and the giraff feeding station is one of the best attractions. We have taken our children, grandchildren and friends to this zoo often. Definitely a must see if you are in the area

Lots of fun and lots to see great prices good food and a safe place also lots of fun animals to watch

The Fresno Chaffee zoo is an Awesome
Place to visit. I highly recommend
Going and taking your children.

Not a huge zoo, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Very affordable, worth a couple hours of your time to visit.

Absolutely love the Fresno Chaffee Zoo! Visited on July 1 with our son (3 years old). We toured almost all the animals and it started to get warm. So he cooled down in the water feature by the dino dig. We very much loved seeing all the animals and enjoyed many keeper talks. I recommend hitting up keeper talks as much as possible, especially the sea lion talk. Afterwards we fed the giraffes! It was really fun. We also enjoyed lunch at the zoo. In the summer, definitely visit in the morning before it gets too hot.

It's currently under construction for what looks like a huge Asian exhibit. It will be impressive when it's done. Even before the new exhibit is done, the zoo is very nice. Most of the animals have very nice environments. The zookeeper talks were very well done. The only issue I have are extra things that aren't included in the admission You can't see the stingrays or dinosaur exhibit without an extra fee. The lodge Cafe has very good, reasonably priced food

I grew up going to this zoo in the '6os and 70's. Boy, has it changed! The exhibits are beautiful, especially the African Adventure area.

I’ve been to many different Zoo’s in Northern California from Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, etc and I never expected FRESNO to have the BEST zoo but they do! It is super clean, the animals are very well taken care. The staff is friendly and they actually educated you about the animals! My nephew simply loves it there and so do I!

The Chaffee zoo sure has come a long way. With the remodeling and safari-like look it really improved the feel and satisfied the animal interested minds, making us feel as though we r there in their real habitat.

I jointed the Chaffee Zoo before going as planned to visit it more
after 25 years. Visiting grand daughter took it to it and she enjoyed
it but better in Spring or Fall as from Santa Maria, Ca and it was hot
for her.

The Chaffee Zoo is surprisingly pretty nice for a little zoo in the Central Valley. It's definitely worthwhile for families with kids. It's crowded, hot, and dusty though. Wear tennis shoes! Side note: the Zoo Half Marathon does not spend much time in the zoo- you run more in the parking lot. Just FYI if the zoo is your reason for signing up!

The bright colors of the animals fascinated my two middle school aged children. They had fun going from enclosed area to enclosed area in the reptile section trying to locate the reptile first. Feeding the giraffe only lasted 2 seconds but my children had a blast looking at the giraffe from close by.

Had a blast hanging out at the zoo. Love the African adventure exhibit... Food is reasonably priced and the area is always well kept. Lots of animals to see. My children love feeding the giraffes or visiting the sea lion cove where we can close our eyes and actually feel like we are at the beach. The reptile house is always a game of who can spot the reptile first and we all have fun in there... Hours of fun and so educational... It’s a Fresno must!

This a big zoo that has a wide range of animals. I usually visit the Oakland Zoo and I think this one is better. You can feed giraffes lettuce here, which the kids love, and they have a huge African Savannah exhibit with rhinos. I don't think they have elephants but they do have cheetahs, lions, alligators, and tigers.

Having been to Africa, this attraction replicates what you see there very accurately. Go in the morning when they open at 9:00 a.m.; the animals have just been fed and are very active. We greatly enjoyed watching the baby hippo (520 pounds at the time), chasing and charging the various adult animals. The entire zoo is well worth visiting.

This is not the zoo of old. They have done an amazing job with their new exhibits allowing animals and people to better experience nature. The giraffe house allowed the children to see up close the beautiful eyes and eyelashes of one of the treasures of Africa. The cheetah exhibit with its glass fence gave even the littlest among us to see the resting cats. The lions, the orangutan, the elephants oh my! We had a great time. It was hard then to see birds ( vultures) in a space they could not truly soar in but maybe they were not able to(?). The petting zoo and the animals out for strolls with handlers added another way for the children to really see and understand a little more about animals in a way pictures can not. We had a great day and hope to return again.

Chaffee Zoo is the best thing in Fresno--and one of my favorite zoos ever! When my two grandchildren were young and I visited them in Clovis/Fresno, we'd almost always go to the zoo. The petting zoo is especially nice-- big, clean and friendly. You don't feed the animals here, so they aren't pushing you over to get food as at some petting zoos. The dino dig is great: just sit around while the kids play in the sand, then take them for an ice cream cone. Zoo is just the right size and the animals are well-cared for. Also, the zoo is within a park, so you can bring a picnic or let the children climb. Across the way is Rotary Park with a merry-go-round, a train, and other rides & water play. Wonderful place!

After weather changed our national parks plan, we found ourselves w a free day in the Visalia area. We are so happy we spent it at Fresno's zoo! Parking is only $5, and admission was really reasonable. There is a walkabout where you can be really close to kangaroos and wallabies!The Africa exhibit w the rhino, elephants, etc. was impressive. Grab lunch at the cafe and watch the rhinos and elephants. My teen daughter LOVED feeding the giraffes, too.

I had NEVER attended Christmas lights at the zoo. It was absolutely amazing. I would encourage couples and families to experience this festive event. Santa was there to take free pictures, they had hot chocolate and a Smores booth. My family and I ate at the zoo restaurant which served a nice variety of burgers, chicken, pizzas and salads. It was a great experience.

Something to do in Fresno. We got in for free with a promo from the Fresno Grizzlies baseball game. So it was worth what we paid for it.

No elephants, giraffes, or other large animals. Still good for small children.

Affordable fee. Well maintained grounds with an environmental friendly system. Well kept animal habitat. My family and I loved the meerkats, the cheetahs and the lemurs! The savanah and the new cafeteria facing it is also special! Keep up the good work!

Good zoo for a visit if you're in the area, the good bits are you can feed the giraffes and stingrays and it's really decently priced for admission, I would recommend a visit if you're in the area for a few hours.

Fresno Zoo has changed for the better since I was a kid. The larger animals have larger space to roam. Zoo was clean and seemed to be kept up. I was there last for the zoofari with free ice cream stations throughout. Got to love all the specials the zoo does.

This trip to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo was a second thought after visiting Yosemite Valley the day before. A few coworkers and myself went together for a road trip from the Bakersfield area. I grew up in Hanford CA, but hadn’t been to the zoo in years. I will say it is well worth the small amount of $13 to get in! I was Very Excited to be able to catch Oliver, the sloth on exhibit while he was actually moving to lower ground...... the Cheetah so close behind the glass.......and the Giraffes!! Right there up close! The Zoo hasn’t even finished all the upgrades they have planned but I can say......Very Good Job so far!!

I first visited the zoo in the early 70's as a little girl and I have watched it grow and change all of these years. The new Africa exhibit is fantastic! Very beautiful and well thought out with free roaming animals native to Africa.

I had never been to the Fresno zoo ,so when I recently visited my brother and we were looking for something different to do ,we decided to see how it had changed since he had been 20 yrs prior.
I found it easily accessed with paved walkways for walking and/or strollers. The pathways were well marked and the different areas had moderate steps or ramps.
He was totally amazed and pleased to see all the changes that had been made. He was most especially surprised at the size of the new elephant /rhino enclosure.
The highlight for me was being able to feed lettuce to the giraffes. This does cost a minimal fee but a great experience.
The Lodge was their large food area with seating under an overhang so that you could still see the animals.
Fun day.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo has made amazing changes. The new Safari part is incredible. We had a great time !

It is a big zoo so be prepared to walk a lot.
They have a lot of parking spaces available and also gift shops and places to eat.
The bathrooms were clean and all the employees were corteous.
You can pay a little extra to feed the giraffes but they just give you 3 pieces to feed and they eat fast...but it is a good experience though.

I've been here during the day (normal zoo hours) and many many times for the evening Zoo Lights event in December. The zoo is so cheap to get in, and it's bigger than I expected it to be for the price. There are lots of different unique animals, even a reptile room, which is one of my favorite parts of the zoo. The Zoo Lights tickets are only a couple of dollars more than regular price and it's SO much fun! Every year your ticket receipt was able to be redeemed at the snack bar for a free small hot cocoa and cookie, but they changed that this year :( It's available for $1 which is still a great deal, but it was nice when it was free. Also, the Zoo Lights event sells special glasses for $2 that you put on and can see xmas lights transformed into little characters or shapes (5 different glasses available) and can be used anywhere...we used the glasses at Christmas Tree Lane right after when we left the zoo !!.....Overall, I do love this zoo. It isn't huge like SF or SD zoo but still a good size zoo with lots of animals and friendly staff (beautiful cafe area too!) I highly recommend going :)

I did not expect this Zoo to hold all that it does, but it is a fabulously big time zoo with a small-town feel. The variety of animals was a surprise. Walking was easy and lunch over looking the African Serengeti was relaxing.

The new exhibit really opened up the area for the animals. Love the sea lion home now and how it is double decker like at Monetery Aquarium.

we went last night to a special event there... it was nice... It has been years since we've been...and the place is really lovely now... I am happy they gave the animals such nice homes. I did a enquiry to a memebership and it wouldn't work for us..

A nice zoo. Worth visiting, and spending a day at more than Once. Zoo lights at night is very nice. Zoo during normal hours is great for families with children, Not expensive, clean, safe and animals a cared for and not neglected. One of the better things done in Fresno.

Well worth getting the annual pass, this is my third year purchasing the senior pass! Aside from the crowds on the weekends, it is a pleasant time, visiting the Fresno Zoo. My family has an annual pass also and we will go for an hour or two and enjoy lunch at the African Safari restaurant. I've even invited older friends to join me there for lunch and we sit in the outdoor covered eating area and watch the animals wandering around while listening to native music.

Going to the zoo is a fun activity that we enjoy all year round.

As a resident of Fresno for over 70 years I have watched the park and Zoo make several changes. The current status of the ZOO has never been better. Truly becoming Fresno's best attraction. It's clean, wonderful venues for the animals to live in, easy to get around. It's right off Highway 99, take a short break next time flying past Fresno. We have more to offer than concert walls and shrubs .

I haven’t been in a few years. We came for one of their Friday evening spring events. The African themed zoo expansion is impressive. Friday’s event was called Cheetahs and Margaritas. The had a great Latin band. A pop-up bar and nachos. I elected to get stuff from their standard menu. The food was very good.
In late spring and summer, visiting at dusk in a good idea. The themed events make the visits even more fun.

My family attended the IllumiNature event on Dec 22, 2023. Wow!! The displays were amazing!! They are huge, the colors constantly change, some are animated, and they are spread out everywhere in the zoo so it never felt too crowded. Special shout out to Dalton at the gift shop kiosk near the big elephant with diamond shapes who saved the night after my mom’s mobility scooter unexpectedly died in the middle of a pathway. Customer service was top notch!

You step in to a completely different climate and culture when you walk in from the streets of Fresno. It's wonderful to amble and reflect on our planet's diverse plants and animals.

Been members for years and it just keeps getting better. Love the renovations and expansion. Great day with the kids.

horrible. I Went today 5/18/25. half the exhibits were closed. No rain forest, bird cage near entranced closd , tiger hiding somewhere; no one seen him all day. Ant eater closed, wolves closed. Almost $40 to see nothing but lots of walking only to fine sometting. One orangutan only now.

We have been to this zoo several times over the years. We like the zoo for its small size and the selection of animals it has. We visited this time to try out the Zoorassic area as my 2 youngest boys are Dino lovers. Sadly my family felt this area was very underwhelming. But the rest of the zoo was great. We are excited to see the new area of Asia if it ever starts and is completed.

I love visited the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. They have recently added the African Safari Area which is beautiful. It really takes you on a Safari to see elephants, lions, and the rhinos (which are my favorite). There is even a very affordable place to eat and watch the animals roam the exhibit, and the chef's specials are always a must try!

Really fun zoo a lot of exhibits. Friendly and informative staff. My kids loved feeding the giraffes and the stingray petting exhibit.

Weather you have little children or it’s just you and your significant other the Chaffee Zoo is a great time! My husband and I go there together a few times a year and we always have a blast! The food is great and the animals are amazing to see. We are eager to take our soon to be baby girl to visit the zoo when she is old enough!

A good small local zoo. If lived here, I would probably get an annual membership and bring the kids all of the time. Some very nicely laid out enclosures. I haven't seen giraffes that close up before. But it is small and not fancy. A large portion is under construction until February 2023 so be warned. At $14.95 to enter, it is not expensive, but not cheap. Think, movie theatre prices and length of presentation and you about have it. The children's play area looked like fun.

We went on a school day and there were lots of school groups but the zoo is spacious enough not to be crowded. The new African Exhibit is excellent and the ever popular feeding the giraffe was fun to watch even without small children in tow. Our personal favourite is Sea Lion Cove. The new restaurant looks promising but we didn’t try it. There is a fee both to enter the park where the zoo is located and for visitors. The zoo is best described as ‘accessible’ both in terms of the closeness of the animals, the opportunity to see staff interacting with the animals, and the ‘walk ability’. Allow about two hours without a rest for foI’d.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a beautiful, well-maintained property with a wide range of animals and educational programs. The animal enclosures are designed to replicate their natural habitats and they look well and happy. (See the giraffes smile!) a visit to the zoo is highly recommended.

If in Fresno definitely worth a visit. We spent a lovely 2 hour visit and saw all the animals you can just Think of.

We are so impressed that we've had annual passes for 4 years. African Adventure, Sea Lion Cove and the Walkabout with the Kangaroos are among the highlights of our zoo. We also love the Sloths in the Rain Forest. Only going to get better with the continued improvements and additions. A must do in Fresno.

A great place for a family day. The African Safari and Sea Lion Cove are highlights! Eat lunch at the Safari Restaurant, great food!

Visiting from L.A. so we have the LA Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and so much to do. So our trip to Fresno ended up with a trip to the #1 attraction which is the Fresno Zoo.
It was $10 for adults and $5 for 2 and up. $ 5 for parking.

There's not much of a crowd and the animals are very up close and personal. We paid for the combo pack which is $14 / adult. This included 1 feeding for the giraffe and 1 Entrance to sting rays. In my opinion, it was not worth it. I would skip the sting rays and just spend all day in Africa! $3 for 3 big pieces of lettuce and you can feed the giraffes all day. We came on a saturday and it was not crowded and so much fun.

We also took a nice outdoor lunch at the cafe in the Africa exhibit. They serve burgers, salads, sandwiches, mac and cheese, brick oven pizza and beer. It was like being in Jurassic Park and the food was good too. I can see why it is the number 1 attraction. This place is awesome.

A wonderful place to visit with your kids or grandkids. Lots of all different animals to see and the park is very clean. Great day trip for the entire family.

So we went to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo last weekend. It was hot and humid, not the fault of the zoo obviously but did make the experience not as much fun. The zoo is ok I guess for a small zoo. The African Safari area is awesome! The rest of the zoo, meh, not so great. If you want to do things with your small kids like pet the sting rays, or the goats or feed the giraffes you will have to pay extra to do these activities. *Just as a head's up to take extra cash with you. The food is extremely greasy with not a lot of options for individuals who are Vegans or who want to eat healthy. In summary, for those who don't want to have to drive to a bigger city to see a zoo, it is fine. For those expecting something on the level of larger cities expect to be not so wowed and be prepared to spend extra money on activities like petting animals and feeding them.

I cannot believe such an amazing zoo is here in the middle of this city. The zoo is so well kept and they are always building on and adding to it. It is costly but there are great coupons and passes for families that make it worth it. The African adventure is awesome. You can dine while you what the rhinos and giraffes

Nice little zoo. But fun for the kids. Had a good time. Good parking. And very responsible priced. Good family fun

Not one of the best zoo's in the world, but great efforts have been made to provide a good environment for the animals. The recently opened African exhibit offers a good expanse of land for the exhibits but yet has the ability to provide close in viewing. Plan to spend at least two hours or more with children, there is a nice variety of exhibits, everything from sea lions to elephants and anteaters n the middle.

Having found this listed as a good attraction in Fresno, we went without too many expectations and were totally surprised as to just how good it is as a zoo and how large an area it covers.
There were numerous innovative displays and enclosures with a very wide range of animals and birds. Well done Fresno Zoo staff and management.

We went there thinking it was going to be just another zoo...WRONG!!!!! Very well laid out and very clean. There is not one exhibit that they don't have an employee there to answer any questions you may have. Everybody that we came in contact with outside of the Zoo all said that this zoo was the "Fresno/Clovis best kept secret.and they are very proud of it!

GREAT ZOO. They take care of the animals, have a very wide variety to view AND feed. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Most of the animals were too far away or hiding so we couldn't see them. The quantity was also lacking. It was more fun seeing the Halloween decorations. Also the vending machine didn't work.

AMAZING ZOO!! Took my family and they absolutely loved it! Kingdoms of asia area was top tier! really felt authentic! we will be going more since we live close

If you haven't been here for a while you are in for a treat! They have updated and remodeled so much in the last couple years. The newest and most impressive additions have included Sea Lion cove, an otter habitat, the new African Safari with lions, cheetahs, and rhinos oh my! Also a new cafeteria with yummy food, neat aquariums, and outdoor covered seating overlooking the animals. They just finished a splash pad play area for the kiddos too I have yet to see. Good things are happening at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

I used to take my children and their friends to the Chaffee Zoo many years ago when it was in it's baby stages - now I take my grandchildren - what an amazing transformation. Fresno should be proud.

I had a chance to visit and was super impressed by the job they did here. First of all the value.. it's only $10 for adults and $5.50 for kids 2-11 and seniors 62 and up. That's a great deal once you see the experience you get. However, you do have to pay for parking which is $6 per vehicle.

If you haven't been here before it is in the same park as Rotary Storyland and the general park grounds so you can certainly spend an entire day here with your paid parking. Paid parking allows 1 re-entry so you can drive out to get something and go back in once.

Back to the zoo, the grounds are kept up nicely. Everything is clean and organized and they have plenty of exhibits that you would not think would be available for such a cheap price. The newly opened African exhibit is nice! They really transformed the area to mimic the true environment. Check out their site to see the latest updates on the zoo as they get new species in.

If I have any advice, make sure to bring sunscreen/sunblock especially when you go through the African exhibit. It mimics the savanna so there is little to no shade and during the hot valley days, it gets really hot with the sun blasting you. The rest of the zoo has plenty of trees that shade and keep you cool. They even have an enclosed ran forest area that again they design to mimic the environment complete with misters from the top to emulate the rain with flowing rivers and falls.

Truly amazing, surprising, and satisfying experience here. I hope they continue to keep up the good work and expand even more.

This zoo was amazing!!! Such a hidden gem in Fresno. My children and I saw so many animals we had never seen before and had a chance to feed the giraffe and stingrays. We watched the animals while eating lunch in the Africa section. I debated whether to go and it was so worth the time!

Great little zoo that is growing and improving all the time. Would definitely recommend. Really nice restaurant area with outdoor seating overlooking the safari area. Could sit there all day !

Over the years, this zoo has been transformed into an area that allows animals to thrive in a natural habitat that still allows visitors of all ages to enjoy them. There are interactive areas, shows, places to eat, and wonderful staff and volunteers to enhance one’s knowledge about the animals. When visiting, you will see all ages enjoying the area.
Highly recommend.

Went with wife ,son and 3 year old grand daughter,the zoo looks after its animals very well is it easy to get round and well sign posted, well worth the small entrance fee,the high lite was watching the grand daughter feeding the giraffes.But every thing was just great

Amazing all new Animal exhibits were wonderful, its great to see they are expanding and making it bigger and more exotic

This is a fantastic zoo and it just keeps getting better and better. Giraffe Feeding Station, Sting Ray Bay, where you can pet and feed the stingrays, and the New African Adventure is gorgeous. Go early in the summer months as it is very hot. Also there is a 5 dollar entrance fee to the park where the zoo is located. Lots of great stuff for the kids, Beautiful place to have lunch at the Kopje Lodge in the African Adventure area. Sea Lion Cove and Winged Wonder Birds both put on a show, and there are keeper chats all day throughout the zoo and lots of great volunteers to answer questions on hand. Zoo hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Weekdays and 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Weekends. First Wednesday of the month is free admission day for children 2-11.

I found out that Fresno has a zoo. I was told to get there early so I can find easy parking. Glad I did. The parking fee was 5.00 and it was 12.95 for one adult.
The zoo is rather well organized with the Africa safari exhibit being the recent renovation. There were activities for kids and the bird show was pretty good!
There are two places to eat, one being a café. All in all, it made for a good 3hr visit!
I would recommend going!

The Fresno Chafee Zoo has been redone and has upgraded many of their exhibits. Sea lion cove, stingray bay, and the newest safari lands blew us all away. The bird shows are really fun to attend! The zoo offers birthday parties, and many camps over the summer. If you become a member, you can attend many of the family friendly events like Zoo Boo, or Zoo Lights just to name a few!

The new restaurant that is near the safari area is excellent and moderately priced. Check it out while watching the animals.

this is a great experience. The caretakers have put a ton of effort into naturalizing the zoo and the visitors get to experience it all with the animal eye lens. Love it.

Had a special time with my daughter and granddaughter. So excited to see all the animals. She had just turned 2. Recommend not going in the heat of the summer. She fed the giraffes. All in all a very enjoyable time

My daughter and I have visited this zoo at least a dozen times. Every visit was an adventure. As she grew from toddler to teenager, she found new meaning in each visit to the zoo. The most recent visit was no exception.

Due to donations and public support of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo has expanded and improved the value of this zoo experience. The bird show when offered is exciting to watch as large birds fly right over the audience and one that will land on you to take a dollar bill to retrieve to the show's moderator. The reptile house is exceptional as well as the aquatic features for seals and sea lions. there is also an area where you can touch stingrays and even feed them. There is a large expanse for giraffes and other roaming animals giving the zoo a grassland feel.

Good value and a great place to spend a few hours with the family. Highlights are feeding Giraffes and sting rays. The Africa exhibit is great. The seal exhibit is pretty cool as well.

Tip: arrive when they open, close parking fills up fast. Better food options are out at the Africa exhibit. Annual passes for families are also a good value.

Kids loved it , everyone had a good time got to do the behind scenes for some of the animals that was pretty cool

This is the first time i have been to the Chaffee Zoo since they opened the African Adventure. It was quite an enjoyable experience. The day was quite warm but there were also some nice shaded areas. The African adventure is quite a large area which allows the animals a lot more freedom to roam around. There is a large covered dining pavilion that has a large variety of foods one may order. It's nice because while you are dining you can enjoy looking at the animals. Close to us was a mother rhinoceros with her offspring nursing. In the distance I could see a large African elephant and closer up some antelope. In another part it was feeding time for the lions which including one male lion and I believe three females.

Great new African savannah area with lions, elephants, giraffes and much more! Walk-through kangaroo/wallaby area fun! New water area will offer great relief in the summer heat. Dino-dig always fun if you don't mind a little dirt! Bird show is on par with large park shows. Best part, though, is being a member, and attending special member-only events where you get to go behind the scenes and learn so much!

we were amazed ! It is absolutely exceptional ! Fresno should be really proud of this exibit. It is like walking into another world. Good Job.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is amazing. It is always fun to spend a relaxing time with the animals. The zoo is even better with the addition of The African Adventure. The restaurant next to the African is quite good.

We treated the children to a trip to the zoo. They had a nice time. A few adults visited also and had a good time also. It was nice to see that so many local residents also visit the zoo.

The new funding for the Zoo has enabled it to update its facilities and open new exhibits. The result is a greatly improved environment for the animals and a great experience for visitors.

I love this place. This is the second year in a row that we’ve purchased an annual pass. My kids are so excited to see the giraffes Every. Single. Time! It’s a great place to hang out and get the wiggles out for the youngsters and it never gets boring for the adults. The pavilion is the perfect place to rest and eat when the kiddos (and mommy) get tired- you can watch the rhinos while you eat.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a family favorite of ours. We have had a family pass for about 16 years and we absolutely love it. The exhibits are open and the animals can be seen in natural surroundings. The Africa exhibit is breathtaking. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is always an amazing time. I recommend that you get the family pass ($85) as well as the Fresno Parks ($50) pass.

went with our family and children , the kids really love the zoo , and the staff were really helpful and giving information about the different mammals and species , there was kids special park inside the zoo, good and clean eating areas

My wife & i decided to do something different for the weekend and go visit the Zoo. We thought that this would be a short visit but we ended up spending the whole afternoon there. There are a lot of new attractions and kid activities that are different unlike other zoos like the Stingray feeding, Giraffe feeding, Aljabu reserve for the giraffe & elephant trail. We also watched the bird show featuring the different trained birds with their bird trainers. All in all it was a good family bonding time visit and one of the attractions fresno has to offer.

The reviews on TripAdvisor that are complaining are people who are lazy or have never been out of their house. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is WONDERFUL. And, when the construction which is currently underway for a new African area is complete it will be even better. The assortment of animals is very good, the walkways are all mostly very flat and easy to navigate, and there is frequent access to food & restrooms throughout the zoo. For a city the size of Fresno I was very, very impressed with the Zoo. They also participate in the shared zoo-pass program (at least with my home zoo) so we got in for 50% discounted price. This isn't the San Diego Zoo or the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo, but you don't go there expecting that. Fresno Chaffee Zoo is impressive for its size, and is wonderful for the central valley community. I would highly recommend visiting this zoo.

My goodness! This zoo really ROCKS!
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT GROWLY BOY TIGER!
His missus was resting in the shade. :)
What a beautiful beautiful place!
I'd return to Fresno for this zoo alone !

My wife and I moved to Fresno two and half years ago and immediately bought season passes. We love the zoo and try to go at least 2-3 times a week. The exhibits are great and they are always improving. Great family time as well.

Coming from San Diego and growing up with San Diego zoo, it has been hard judge other zoos. I was pleasantly surprised at visit to Chafee zoo in Fresno. A few exhibits closed but overall a nice venue. Chetahs were active, other animals if not active were visible.

the experience is good for children they can learn more about the animals there at the Fresno Chaffe zoo

I love our zoo. Some of the animal enclosures are still a little small but they ate doing a great job making them larger and better for the animals, it is always a pleasure to visit.

A very respectable zoo. Good variety of animals; good eating areas. Nicely done. A good daytime Fresno activity.

Their Africa exhibit is of excellent quality. I had a healthy lunch while watching the animals. The giraffes can be fed. The cats are very close up. The new seal lion exhibit is such a joy.

Enjoyed all the exhibits. One of the things we wanted to do was photos but the time of day wasn't conducive. It's not a big zoo but it took a while to get around. Good maps and signs would've been a big help with navigation.

We spent a day (9am-4pm) last week on July-2 there with our 6 year old.
- We all loved the zoo.
- Even in hot weather, the zoo has shade all around - you still get exposed to hot sun but not too bad
- The bird show is amazing
- The zoo is small so walking around isn't bad but the hot weather compensates for it :)
- The cafe food has variety, but we brought our own so can't say much.
- The shade area next to African safari is awesome to have lunch while watching animals.
- Our daughter loved many animals in the zoo, including petting goats; seals; birds; feeding giraffe ($3/feeding)
- The price is decent for the zoo size and animal variety; there is $5 parking fee as well.
- Strongly recommended for families visiting Fresno, especially with small kids.

Like all zoos, best for kids, but adults will be impressed by the thoughtful presentation of its well-cared-for animal population.

This zoo has a good range of large animals as well as small animals. The cafe by the African section is very cool with an outlook of elephant, rhinos, giraffes in the background. Zoo closes at 4pm, plan for 2 hours inside.

The Fresno Zoo is a great family outing. It is a nice size for young children to walk around and there is always shade even in the middle of summer. My kids like the petting zoo and feeding the giraffes. They have big long purple tongues. They also love to drive the jeep in the new African exhibit.

I'm extremely disappointed in the Boo Event that my family attended last night, October 25, 2025. I spent nearly $200 for tickets in for a family of 8 and there were only a handfull of animals visable/out/awake. I called and they specifically told me the animals would be out and visible. My 8 year old grandson did enjoy the different costumes but the trick or treat lines were very long so that was a downfall and when there weren't lines it was because they were out of candy! What did we pay for exactly?

Enjoyed all the attractions, and especially the savanna! Beautifully done! It gave the appearance that all those animals were wandering around together. Kudos to the designer!

Good job Chaffee and Fresno for creating such a wonderful area for kids of all ages to come and explore their curiosity with the animals. So much to do and see. The newer exhibits are awesome and well done.

The Chaffee Zoo is a clean zoo. Enough to do for kids, and the animals look happy. The personnel is nice and ready to answer all questions. We like to stroll around in the zoo, and take pictures of the animals. We were through in about 3-4 hours. We did visit the bird show. This was fun for all ages.

We recommend this zoo for a morning or afternoon off in Fresno.

P.s. If you go in the morning: I had a perfect Chorizo Breakfast Burrito in the Safari Cafe. Do try!

Being born and raised in Fresno I have been going to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for years. It is so nice to see how it has evolved. There are so many wonderful attractions. Stingray Bay where you can actually pet a stingray. The seal exhibit that allows you to not only watch the seals and sea lions frolic and jump out of the water you can walk down to the underwater level and watch them swimming. The African Adventure was so well done. It is expansive with lots of room for the animals to roam.
I have neen taking my nieces and nephews there since the 90s and now enjoy the zoo with their children. It’s so nice to share this with another generation.

A wonderful zoo...it's big...it's pretty. ..it's clean...it's shady...it's fun...love feeding the giraffe. ..good food in cafeteria cafe...has beer! A gem in fresno...

We were visiting family in Fresno and noticed that this zoo was #2 of Things to Do on Trip Advisor. Reasonable rate of $12.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids. I'd advise wearing comfortable shoes since the zoo is much larger than you'd expect. The Twiga Terrace provided a unique experience of feeding giraffes from an elevated platform ( $3 per person for a few large lettuce leaves ). Get your cameras ready and take your time when handing over the lettuce - the giraffes love it! The African Adventure area was quite impressive. Be on the lookout for White Rhino. There's also a Roo Walkabout, a caged walk-through Bird exhibit, multiple sealife exhibits as well as scheduled events throughout the day. The property is modern, clean and well-maintained. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We arrived there after lunch but we noticed a large dining area which included kid-friendly choices. Relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

They have really been doing so amazing with all the renovations at the zoo! I absolutely love the African Safari!!! It’s so beautiful and lots more shade! The zoo is definitely going to shine!

This zoo is really amazing! There are a variety of animals, you can even find sea lions! There are also a lot of attractions! It's a nice place to have a family outing!

Visit Dec. 2017::
I can only really review the zoo lighting aspect. This was absolutely amazing and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to see this. The time in my opinion that was invested in making this a magical moment was on point.
The admission to the zoo was very inexpensive and under 2 is free admission. We were so taken it took us a while to move from the entrance to the back part of the zoo. There was also an area for food, s'mores and there was a live band. There was plenty of security too. I hate I will miss this next year.

Each Christmas we have purchased family membership for my brother's family. It was great to see it in person. It was bigger and better than I thought. We did pay extra for the special exhibit that was there. I believe we also had to pay for parking.

We are so lucky to have a fantastic zoo in the city of Fresno. I haven't been in a few years, but went this past weekend and was once again blown away at the world class facility we have. The new African Adventure was set up beautifully with a clever design that looks like the animals are all on the same plain. You can't really see the channels that separate them so it is visually appealing to see them all at once. Even though it was hot, the animals were active with the elephants even taking baths in the water and shooting water from their trunks! The sea lion cove was my favorite. If you walk all the way around, you'll come to a spot where you can see under water and watch the sea lions swim across the glass. It has plenty of shade in this area along with benches so we sat here and enjoyed watching the sea lions play. The sting ray exhibit is pretty cool in which they allow you to touch the rays. There is a small fee however to go into this area ($2). Our kids always enjoy stopping at Dino Dig where they can hunt for dinosaur fossils that are hidden throughout a huge sand pile. Overall, this is a wonderful way to spend a day with the family. If you find yourself visiting Fresno, try and make your way to the zoo. I highly recommend it!

It’s a Central Valley hidden treasure!!! No need to drive to far off places to see incredible animals of all kinds. If you haven’t been in sometime you owe it to yourself to go see the new addition “Africa Safari” absolutely fantastic, I thought I was standing in Africa. A must visit for all ages, great family day together.

We were so lucky, after 100 degrees temperatures it dropped to 75 and it made for such a pleasant day.
The entry price is so reasonable, the best value zoo I have ever known.
Great at choice of animals to view. The 3 year old saw so many. Hard to say which are her favourites. She seemed to enjoy the seals a lot.

We have our annual pass to go here.... we go at least 4 times a year - It's a great place to spend the day at, there is so much to see... the Safari restaurant is so relaxing

Wonderful place for family's. Great interaction for children with the stingray pool, the seal area is a must. All exhibits are well maintained and to eat lunch while watching the elephants is a fabulous experience. The staff is very informative. Love the gift shop too.

A bit disappointing but didnt expect much otherwise. Pretty much you can only visit outdoor sections due to covid. shame that they make you pay extra for some exhibits, its not that big of a zoo in the first place. the elephant giraffe rhino areas were nice. otherwise wasn't anything overly exciting. The sea lion area seems like a huge section what a waste of space for the 1-2 sea lions hiding swimming in the corner. There was very little or unclear signage of where to go and what to do anywhere in the zoo and they dont even hand you a map when you walk in. the whole visit took us 1-2 hours.

I have a large family so we decided to go with the annual pass which has saved us so much money already. It’s a great buy I suggest anyone who plans on going to the zoo more than once a year should definitely purchase an annual pass. The food is not so pricey. They have been adding more things I personally love going to Stingray bay and they have sharks too. With the annual pass you get into stingray bay free just pay the $1 for feeding if option available. Great place for family outings.

Happened to be in Fresno and TA’d what to do. For a reasonable price you can get into a pretty cool zoo! They have a lot of different animals and you can even feed a giraffe lettuce for $3. (They have a sink right there with soap and water to wash up after) This place is worth a quick stop, especially for the price.

My family has had a zoo membership for many years - even before African Adventure opened. We have not always gone enough to “pay” for it but I buy the membership to support the zoo every year and we have donated on many occasions. Sea Lion Cove is so serene. Having a stressful day? - go sit and watch them all zip gracefully through he water. Go pet the sting-rays who are not like the skittish ones at Monterey; these ones LIKE to brush against your fingers and will make many passes. And simply enough can be said about African Adventure. The Kopje Lodge is always serving great food, California beer and wine. Where else can you sit less than 30 yards from a white rhino while enjoying a woodfired pizza?

If you are passing through Fresno, make it a point to spend a few hours - you won’t regret it. If you live here, show your support and GO!!! Measure Z only pays for new exhibits...it cannot pay for the operations so they need our support!!

The animals have natural habitats. Love this place! My grandchildren love coming here. My husband and I enjoy strolling through the zoo and seeing the animals in the safari areas.

Conveniently located right along Freeway 99 for easy access and is adjacent to a playland area that has rides for kids. The newest addition is the African savannah area where the animals roam freely over a large area that parallels their natural environment. It gives one the sensation of being on a safari! The rest and restaurant area is wonderful, with a good variety of food and refreshments. Highly recommend for children and grownups alike!

This Zoo is a valley gem, I only regret not visiting sooner. Since my first visit years ago we have been back several times. Love all the improvements over the years. The kids love the Mantis petting area. Great family fun.

From the last time I was there it has had a great start of a major overhaul! I’m very proud of the changes that they have made. Fresno is continually growing. The Zoo needs to do the same! Keep on with the great work!

The zoo is great place to bring your family. The new addition is spectacular. The restaurant has a nice view of the African animals. Plan on spending a few hours to enjoy all the things the zoo has to offer.

The African Safari is beautiful! Got to see the elephants swimming, got up close and personal with a giraffe! A great zoo for a smaller town.

This was a nice zoo to visit. It wasn't the largest, but it was enjoyable, small zoo. I did like some of the bird enclosures because you can walk inside with them.

A really nice zoo with a lot of animals and different attractions. An african part which was builded in 2015 with good space for the elephant, rhino... you can feed a giraffe (3$ extra) & ask the keepers as much as possible - we talked to 3 and all were friendly, helpful and so nice.
You find picknick-spots or go to the Restaurant and watch the african animals while having lunch. A great zoo with really affordable prices. You should go there!

Loved the zoo! The African safari portion of the zoo is great! If you are in Fresno, I would recommend it!

The zoo had some very interesting exhibits such as a walk thru area with Australian animals that were not confined )kangaroos and emus. The aviary was great as was the African animal exhibit. Some areas were closed for renovation so check went site.

We visited the Fresno Zoo with our almost 3 to 8 year old grandchildren and found it to be fascinating. It is laid out in a very interesting manner (ie. grouping all the animals of the African Savannah together) and as we wandered, we encounter some of the various talks given by your animal handlers that were quite interesting. Hands down, our grandchildren's favorite part was feeding lettuce to the giraffes!!! They had some tasty food for "humans" too including some interesting salad combinations.
A fun day at a place manageable in size.

We always have a great time at the zoo.. love how they have expanded it. Lunch or breakfast on the Savannah is a must

This zoo was a fun place to be with our family. Tucked away in a quiet area of town. Lots of fun animals & exhibits, some of which were staffed and interactive. All of the staff that we encountered seemed to be friendly and willing to answer questions. Food choices are good. Do the sit-down restaurant if you want to cool off or want more food choices.

This is a fantastic place to take kids of all ages. They have done a magnificent job of making each habitat open and real. There is so much to do so bring a stroller and money for snacks and drinks.

Have some free time while in the Fresno area? Stop in and see this clean and very interactive zoo. Many exhibits and plenty of hands on experiences that will please both children and adults alike. The zoo keepers take pride and ownership of their charges and are quick to provide insights into the animals under their care.

We had decided to try a new zoo rather than going to San Francisco or Sacramento. This was a real pleasant surprise. This is a great facility with great displays and enclosures. The new patio/snack area is really nice and provides a great area to eat and look at animals. Parking is a little strange. There are no big parking lots in front so we ended up parking along the drive around the park.

The Zoo has really improved over the years! We have an annual pass and go at least once a month. The African exhibit is AMAZING! I recommend going right when they open, less people and cooler during the summer. Lots to see and they are still doing renovations to make it even better. If you have kiddos and are looking for something to do in the Fresno Area, give the zoo a chance!

We spent about 2 hours seeing animals and enjoying lunch with view at African adventure area. On the way to exit, we noticed it was time for bird show, thinking some kind of show abd tell. As we waited, suddenly homing pigeons flew low and went back stage. After that, without human, show started like fashion show.
It was very impressive beginning and after bird trainer came out, there were more amazing, audience engaging acts and we really enjoyed. It was a good ending of the zoo visit for almost all adult family.

In the beginning of January my nephew's birthday was on the 19th I had the pleasure of taking him his sister and two other friends to the zoo it was wonderful seen animals that I remember when I was small myself enjoying seeing the animals it was a wonderful day

This is a fantastic zoo for families with small children. It's not too big so you don't have to spend hours and hours of walking to see it all. There are a lot of interactive activities from touching stingrays to feeding giraffes. Staff is helpful and there are plenty of bathrooms. Lunch in the restaurant is affordable and pretty good. This zoo has family written all over it !

The Chaffee Zoo has expanded and become more of what I would call user friendly for the animals. Their enclosures and more life like, roomy and open.

Whenever we make it up to Fresno we like to take the kids to the Zoo. This Zoo is big with a diverse collection of animals to see. The staff was helpful and informative of all the different species they have at this zoo. They have a great eating area where you can view the animals while you eat.

The prices keep going up, so if you are going to visit often, get an annual pass.

The zoo requires a lot of walking. Small children are worn out by visiting half of the zoo. Bring a stroller for children 3 and under.

The new safari area is incredible. Visit as soon as the zoo opens in order to see the animals active. Make sure to see at least one feeding time. The zoo keepers give great information and answer questions.

I spent the late morning at the zoo, and I enjoyed everything I saw. The aviary and petting zoo were my favorites. There is a bit of construction, but most flora and fauna are available for viewing.

We went to the zoo on a Saturday while staying in Fresno. It was a nice, clean, and quaint zoo. They are doing some construction to the zoo to improve and update exhibits. Over all it was a nice. You can get through this 2-4 hours.

We went on a non busy day and parking while plentiful was not all convenient to enter the zoo.
No waiting in the ticket line and we were in.
It would have been nice to have a map that showed you how to go to visit everything. There were maps and you could download one for your phone.
We wandered around and think we saw everything.
Most of the enclosures were right sized and natural for the animals.
They had a nice variety of animals but not a lot.
They had some really nice enclosures where you can be in the environment with the animals.
Overall a nice experience that will be so much better after they finish all the construction that is going on.

Pleasantly surprised. My fiance is from Fresno my first visit. She was amazed at improvements. Large African exhibit. Zoo has wolves, first zoo I've seen that does. Zoo staff friendly and informative. Small zoo done very well.

If it has been a few years since you last visited the zoo, you should plan to revisit the zoo. They have added an African savanna section the kids and parents will love. If it's really been a while since your last visit, there is an updated seal lion cove viewing exhibit allowing you to watch the seals play under water.

Had fun hear watching the animals as long as it doesn’t get too hot. It could you more shade for the hot weather.

We went to the Zoo not sure what to expect and my husband and I spent almost 3 hours wandering around. The tropical bird area was the best for us as my husband is quite a good photographer. There was also a good collection of animals from all over the world. We really enjoyed it and if we lived closer we would definitely bring our grandkids to this zoo.

Our small group of friends went to the zoo to eat and see where our tax dollars went to renovate our crumbling zoo.
We were so impressed. I had not been there to see all the new areas. I was so proud of Fresno! The designers must be commended.
The food was a bit pricey but the quality was there so I was very satisfied. We had a glass of wine which was a little less quality for the price but it was ok.
All in all I was very pleased with our little excursion. Our friends would like a repeat performance there in the future. So glad we went!

We love this zoo. It's not massive, has beautiful grounds, and a good range of animals.

The African part of the zoo is wonderful, especially the dining area.

Feeding the giraffes was a hit with our kids.

We have season passes and enjoy going to the zoo at different times of the day, depending when the keeper talks are. Because we are members, we don't feel we have to stay all day. My son especially loves the stingrays and sharks! All of the staff are very knowledgable and friendly! And there is a lot of shade which is nice on HOT Fresno days!

I haven't been to this zoo in almost two decades and the improvements are phenomenal. The new African Safari side is quite impressive and rivals that of San Diego's Safari Park. Just love that new exhibit for being able to see so many species roaming together in a large exhibit. The elephants were spectacular and the rhinos put on a show for us. Loved being able to feed the giraffes which you cannot do in any of the San Diego parks (probably because of the risk and exploitation of animals). We traveled with two kids 3 and under in a double stroller and had no problems. The tiger exhibit was really great too. Pricing was absolutely fantastic for the size of this zoo. It's definitely worth visiting if in the area and during less popular times. Some areas can get bottle necked with too many people but I was amazed at the exhibits and new updates. Very well worth the visit. Parking is free so thats a bonus. Not the best part of town so definitely don't leave valuables in the car. Getting food afterwards is a bit difficult too so make a plan before leaving.

Sea Lion Cove remains my favorite spot, yet there are so many pleasant exhibits. The aviary, rainforest, reptile house, and so many more offer many memorable moments.

My wife and I are members so we go here 2 to 3 times a month to see the animals and eat at the Kopje dinning facility.
The food is good and the pricing is fair. The fun part is the view while you eat. It is like you are in Africa overlooking the plains. The cooler the weather, the more active the animals.
Most exhibits have staff near by. They seem to want to help and are eager to answer your questions.
Enjoy!

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a wonderful place to visit. Clean and has amazing animals. So much to see. Don't miss visiting while in Fresno !!

Chaffee zoo has come a long ways since I was a child. They have updated it several times over the years and made it into a wonderful clean, spacious for the animals ,adventurous place to take young children. I recommend it for all parents grandparents to take there children to the Chaffee Zoo to experience seeing wild animals in there normal environment.

While the entrance is not fancy you quickly find out it drops you directly into the action. I beautiful walk through tropical bird environment that thrills children and adults alike. Moving on to the elephants you are sill thinking this is a standard zoo adventure until you come out on the Savanna. 40 acres of beautiful environment designed so well you don't notice the barriers between the hunters and the prey. Off in the distance a herd of elephants sways while different antelope types wander and occasionally bound through. A pride of lions sits to one side. Lounging on rocks and lording it over all, cubs playing and lionesses watching over them. A rhinoceros wanders through with her baby at her side. Amazing everyone.
Next is on to the giant enclosed tropical rain forest complete with waterfall and fowl of all types.
The zoo in Fresno is well worth the visit. If you in town at loose ends or looking for something on the weekend to do with yourself or the family. You can't lose with this one.

I was there with my 4 grandchildren and paid for the upgraded ticket to feed the giraffes(they loved that)and touch the man-o-rays (they didn't love that) This was my first time since the African safari addition. The cafeteria is beautiful and a nice shady spot for lunch but can get pricy pretty fast. So bringing your own lunch is a good option. We had some delicious soft serve cones. The new sea lion cove is very nice. Too bad we missed the show but that's that's a great reason for a return visit in the fall when it's not so hot.

Who knew the Fresno Chaffee Zoo had grown so much! I had been as a kid and wanted to check it out to take our grand kids sometime. Well, we don't live in Fresno, but ended up buying a membership. We liked it that much! Good job Fresno.

It’s a nice zoo with some really cool exhibits! The Kingdom’s of Asia exhibit contains many rare and interesting animals! It was also nice to be able to look at the African savanna animals while sitting down and enjoying lunch! We also fed giraffes and stingrays! It’s a highly recommended zoo in my humble opinion!

My grandkids never tire of the zoo. Seems like every time we go another exhibit has been added. The fresno zoo is a real gem.

Hard to find a place as beautiful, relaxing, and delightful as the Fresno Zoo. I offers it all to both childern and adults.The Zoo has truly become what Dr. Chaffee always dreamed it would be.

Great place to enjoy with family and friends I have been going as a tradition for many years it gets better and better as it goes I would highly suggest this for anybody traveling through or locals that haven't been great for all ages.

We took our 5-year-old grandson for his birthday because we knew he'd love it. I haven't been to the zoo since before the African Safari exhibit was built. We were very impressed by the size of the grounds - multiple acres - and how many different types of animals. We're definitely returning!

Took a group of 7-year-olds to the Chaffee Zoo and they loved it! The reptile house gets better every time I see it. For a medium-sized city, this is an excellent zoo. A suggestion for the zoo admin- Please have a section in the gift shop for items under $5.00. The kids get discouraged looking for a small item to buy and they are few and far between. I realize the gift shop is a fund-raiser for the zoo, but the shop could buy a selection of little animals (not the fancy ones), zoo pencils with animal erasers, and other little items for the kids who don't have many resources. Oriental Trading is an excellent source for items by the dozen!
You'll still make money and the kids will be thrilled!

It’s my home town zoo!
It has had it’s issues and challenges but the Chaffee Zoo has overcome all the them! There are some great events! Safari Night. Zoo Boo. Breakfast with the animals.
When ever you have time take a trip to the the Chaffee Zoo!

This park offers two options for families: The zoo side where they can enjoy animals of different kinds or just seat/play on its vast open ground outside the Zoo. Plenty shady trees 🌲 give a nice cool environment to relax in

The Zoo is very well kept and is kid friendly, I wish the other part of the park area was better maintained and the fun land area would be opened up for more fun things to do for the kids.

Our family has a membership so we go often. My 9 year old goes to their day camp every year and he always comes home with great information and a desire to learn even more about animals. The new Africa exhibit is especially nice. My favorite is the sea lion exhibit--Sea Lion Cove.

Took the whole family, this is a great small zoo. My father in law and I broke off from the rest of the family and somehow found ourselves at the snack shack area. Best way to spend the day, the food was terrific, the attractions are enjoyable, and the park is small enough you can see the whole thing without overdoing it.

Wow! This really exceeded our expectations!
The Cafe where you can view the savannah while dining was great! Feeding giraffes, bird area and dinosaur experience were awesome!!

Really fun! Warning, if it's summer, it will be HOT. A lot of the animals were tired/resting the day we went because the heat was so intense. I think Fall, Spring or Winter visit and early in morning would be best timing.

I have visited the zoo every year for the past four years when visiting Fresno. My husband and I love to spend the day, but it looks especially fun for families with young children. The kids seem to be enjoying the new water playground, especially in the Fresno summer heat. The zoo is very clean and inviting. There are many different types of animals. My favorites are the rhino family, the elephants and the orangutans. Zookeepers seem very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend visiting the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

It's a cute zoo. Took us about an hour to see most of it. I think it will be much better when the area under construction is finished. I think it will add a lot. I am spoiled because I live in San Diego and our zoo is one of the best.

Hello follow travers I am writing this because I used to go to the zoo when I stayed there awhile ago and I been all over America driving, this weekend I had the chance to visit that zoo I hadn't seen in over 23 years and I was pleased what it grew up to be a great zoo to visit when you have a chance ,great for families

We enjoyed a great visit with friends and family ealier this year. The park was clean amd well-kept. It was not crowded, and we attended on a weekday. Feeding the giraffes was our favorite part! We will definitely be back, and will bring out of town guests when they visit us in Fresno!

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is Great! This place is such a terrific place to spend time with the Kid's & Grandkids. Each time I go, it seems to get better! Lot's of memories to be made 😎👍

We were back in Fresno visiting family for Christmas. Definitely one of the few "Bucket List" items if you are visiting the Fresno area for the first time!

I love the Fresno Chaffee Zoo!! We could spend the day there and not see everything as it's so large and there's so many things. It is worth every penny to go to this zoo

We brought the 'grandkids' to experience the sea lion cove, they also got to feed the giraffes. As experiences go with little kids it was fun. They enjoyed the adventure. I was happy to share the experience with them.

It was a great day at the zoo. It was bigger than I expected. I really enjoyed seeing the elephants out in the open.

Our grandkids got to feed the Giraffes at the savanna and did the petting Zoo as well. We ate at the zoo by the savanna and the food was great/

A great Zoo featuring exotic animals from throughout the world. The Zoo has been upgraded from the original zoo and the ambiance that adults and children will enjoy.
Take a boat ride and ride the train throughout out the park.
Enjoy a delightful snacks or lunch to relax for a memorable day.
Fresno is the sixth largest city in the State of California and recognized as the Capitol of Raisin growing and one the states most fertile Agricultural region.
You will enjoy the number 1 citizen from Fresno, Pulitzer Prize winning Author and Play Write William Saroroyan and vist the Playhouse and Cultural Center in his honor.
Fresno State Univesrsity is esteemed Academic institution with an excellent Division 1 football and baseball school.

I know. Area surrounding is not the best but the park is such a gem. Very clean and friendly helpful staff. Could sit for hours and watch the elephants. We all loved feeding the giraffes. Snacks are not cheap however pretzel and cheese dip was a hit. And after a lot more walking had lunch outside of the "safari". Must must must have the garlic fries. I kid you not. Looking forward to the Christmas lights.

DO NOT MISS THE ZOO on your visit to our city! Great for kids and grandkids. Lots to do and see! Good restaurant too!

Fresno has a very beautiful zoo but I will not be returning anytime soon thanks to some of the staff. A few of them were very rude. One guy was very rude in the small room with the monkeys. He constantly hit the railings to scare the monkeys off of it. And was repeatedly looking at his phone. One girl sat in the farm area gossiping with a another employee and snapped at my husband while he was looking at the horse they had in the back. Yelling at him not to touch though he clearly wasnt so she needs to have her glasses checked. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is due to 1 employee that was actually friendly. She was very helpful in the stingray petting area and incredible knowledgeable. Other than that if staffing doesnt improve or change, I will not be taking my family back there.

We went back during the day and had a wonderful experience. I had only been there for the Christmas lights and had never seen it in the day light hours when the animals are out. This is definitely a hidden gem in Fresno. All the displays are very well done and it is a must stop if you are in the area.

I used to have the family pass when my children were younger, so we were there a lot! I also had to go there to work on their phone and data lines as part of my job, so I was privy to the early stages of the planning of the makeover. I suggest to everyone who hasn't been here or who hasn't been here in a long time to go. You will be pleasantly surprised with what the zoo has to offer and you will probably want to visit again and again.

Excellent “adventure” for all ages. The Chaffee Zoo has outdone themselves in other spectacular exhibits and the warm, inviting feel let’s you enjoy the experience of learning about the animals and their ecosystems. There’s no rush. You can meander all day and simply enjoy. The jaw dropping African exhibit will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. The “food court” near the African exhibit is really reasonable and there is seating so your entire family can enjoy your time, and meals, while watching the animals in all their glory. My family and I visit Chaffee on a regular basis, and every time we go, we get the pleasure of new experiences. Please take your families and enjoy, you won’t regret it!

I have a membership, and up until my granddaughter moved to Denmark, yes THAT Denmark, we were going weekly. I last went to the zoo when the baby elephants were finally out to play. She left for Copenhagen just two weeks before. Thanks to FaceTime she was able to be with me to see all the new babies (the Meerkats were already out), and of course, no trip to the zoo would be the same without feeding Ba-Ba, her favorite giraffe. It was a quick go around, but we went to the zoo together, and I loved that. I believe zoos are important for the ecological preservation of our animals. We have a nice zoo that came from very humble, uneducated beginnings. The zoo has more plans to expand, and I am proud to be a member, even when I go alone.

The zoo was an awesome experience 🤗 sooo many new upgrades and changes the African adventure part of the zoo is my favorite. You have the best view of the animals in a natural habitat and enjoy a nice family lunch or dinner that has plenty of seating right in the new cafe. It’s just breathtaking.

This is one of the best zoos you could ever go to. They have improved so many animal enclosures, sea life & safari areas.

The Fresno Chaffee zoo has immensly improved over the last 5 years. There are many diverse species to visit. They offer a wide variety of activities for children. The cafe in the African Adventure has great food, plenty of options at a decent price. A few friends have their date night and dinner at the zoo. I think this zoo offers outstanding experiences for a bargain price.

Such a nice zoo was totally unexpected in Fresno. This place was a lot of fun. Especially enjoyed feeding the giraffes. Bring your walking shoes.

This zoo is small, smells, animal areas are very small. This zoo try's to create itself every so often......lack of land to expand......it wants to grow in size.....however, it is small and the animals look like they are trapped. Folks if your kids are to young to understand and you just happen to be in Fresno or passing by........this zoo is costly in every aspect not worth the time or money The parking lot appears to be bigger than the zoo. So if you like small zoos that have cornered their animals for your viewing pleasure enjoy. The staff inside not at ticket booth happen to not be the people I would let take care of my dead dog!

Great new additions to the zoo since Sea Lion Cove was finished. The African Adventure has a great open design where when you first look at it, the animals all look like they are together then you see all the separate enclosures for each species. Very cool!

We went for our grandson's birthday in January 2019. The birthday area was in the Jungle area and was fenced in and had lots of room for the children to play safely. After the party, all enjoyed the zoo and it was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

The family loves to take a trip to the zoo. All the new attractions are great for the animals. It’s very kid friendly

Had a fun experience at night viewing the Christmas displays. Will have to return during the day to view the animals.

my kid loves this zoo!! You have to watch the kids in the petting area since they dont like kids running after the ones that walk away. my kid so fearless...

The Chafee Zoo in Fresno is top notch. Their animal displays are very interesting and the wild Africa exhibit has a very natural setting. Would enjoy visiting several times per year.

The Fresno Zoo is a hidden treasure. The patrons are treated to several areas devoted to areas of the world. There is an African area that has large spaces for the different species. In the last few years the space has be increased significantly. There is better viewing and better pathways through the exhibits. The Zoo hosts several fundraising events that make the Fresno ChaffeeZoo extra special. Check it out. You will be pleasantly surprised and visit more than once!!

The FCZ to a great way to kill some time and see some cool animals! Their African exhibit is AWESOME! That being said, we went a little later in the day and paid the price for it in not being able to see all of the animals since we lingered to check others out. Pro tip-check the schedules to make the most out of feeding times, maintenance, etc.

I went here with a graduate class project and it was a terrific experience. The staff and docents were very knowledgable and passionate about the zoo. I learned information about cheetahs I did not know. I live right up the road from the San Diego Zoo, and the smaller Fresno zoo is also wonderful for the animals. The lion enclosure was really impressive. The restaurants use compostable products.

Our grandchildren (5 and 4) love coming to this gem of a place, and appeared to know their way around, which was just as well, as the maps and directions were not too clear. However, the animals looked content, well nourished, in comfortable surroundings. Refurbished recently, one can now feed the giraffes “eye to eye”, without them having to crane their necks down to receive the lettuce leaves on offer. This lookout building also allows you to look out over the African part of the zoo, with elephants, rhinos, gazelles etc. The lions, tigers and cheetahs are, naturally, kept apart from the rest of the animals, as were the orangutans. Our grandchildren loved stroking the stingrays in the aquarium, and patting the goats and sheep in the ‘farm’ area. I was particularly struck by the insistence that one should wash hands before and after touching the animals, for our benefit as well as theirs, and there were adequate facilities nearby the aquarium and farm areas. We had lunch at the restaurant, where the pizzas were freshly cooked, and delicious! The toilets were clean, and serviced regularly, and the staff were all helpful, and knowledgeable about the animals in which they were in charge. A visit to the souvenir shop resulted in the purchase of a couple of soft toys, of course. Prices were reasonable for the gifts and the romaine lettuce leaves for the giraffes.According to my grand daughter, the highlight for her had to be brushing the goats and sheep, although she was mesmerised by the seals, as she watched them from the below surface viewing room.

The Chaffee Zoo is my absolute favorite place to take my 3 year old. She is really into animals so this is the perfect place for her. There is a large variety of exhibits and there’s always someone close by to talk to that will go in depth with information on whatever animal you’d like. Also, they host various events throughout the year for all ages. The whole place is always clean, staff is friendly, and the food is pretty delicious. I prefer food from the cafeteria in the African Safari over the other little place by Dino Dig. The African Safari in general is pretty cool too. I’m excited for all the new exhibits that the zoo is working on opening within the next few months.

Went to celebrate my daughter's birthday, (my very adult daughter) and took rest of the family and babies as well. Not crowded, and not smelly in the least. Clean and well picked up and loved the animals who seemed to be well taken care of and happy. It was truly a lovely place to be and even when we stopped for a snack, the garlic fries were heavenly. We even decided to buy the yearlong pass! I hope they plan on being able to take us on each and every day!

This zoo continues to amaze. The safari is wonderfully done and the keepers have really educational and fun animal talks. One of our favorite new additions was the Australian outback walkthrough exhibit. My seven year old did a report on Australia and he said, “Mom! It’s like being in the outback!” Helpful staff and easy to follow layout. Did I mention the safari cafe serves craft beer and wine?!? Oh, and good food too.

We enjoyed visiting this zoo. It had a large open area where several animals were able to roam. My favorite part is the ability to feed the giraffe's, which was adorable to watch.

My recommendations are: remember there is a parking fee to get in ($5 I think or you can purchased a parking pass through a vendor with Fresno City). I also recommend that you bring water due to heat and varying degrees of vendor(s) open depending on time of year. The variety of animals and cleanliness of the zoo is outstanding. Family outing without much planning - can do anytime (rain or shine - just bring an umbrella). Getting an annual pass w/ guest will pay off if you go more than 3x/year (my opinion).

Great place for young and old. Really great with all the upgrades. Even the food is good. They have great attractions. So many different animals and plants

Fresno Chafee zoo is always a delight. Very well maintained and you feel safe. Animals are beautiful and the smell isn't as bad as I remembered in my past experiences. I would decline on visiting the zoo because of the stench, but they seem to be on top of that. Fun. Fun.

We just spent a great day at the Fresno Chafee Zoo. It was a beautiful day and the animals were out enjoying the weather. The African exhibit is great and it was very easy to see all the animals. We also participated in behind the scene animal encounters and sting ray cove, I would highly recommend!! We will definitely be back.

As a zoo member I can take my grandson every day for a few hours. He’s only 18 months so he thinks he’s seeing something new each day. The zoo is always clean and the staff is always helpful and friendly. We love the African Safari where you can feed the giraffes lettuce leaves. Our other favorites are the bird show, stingray bay and the Dino dig.

We are two seniors and enjoyed our time at the zoo. The zoo is very nice, especially for families looking to entertain the children. It's not very large and it only takes about 2 hours to visit all the animals. They've added a new area which is very nice. The only disappointing factor is some of the enclosures were empty. Just an FYI for those of you on a budget....you have to pay to enter the park, then you pay zoo admission. If you are handicapped, park admission is free, just show your placard.

Brought my granddaughter to the zoo while she was here visiting for Christmas. The place was pretty dead, most animals gone for the winter and it was cold. Probably not a great time of the year to visit. The zoo is in the hood so plan accordingly and try to ignore the police helicopter flying around the whole time. Reminded me of a scene “escape from New York “! Cheers!

Much improved zoo, getting better all the time. Zoo habitats very nice. Giraffe feeding. Touch Rays. Knowledgeable docents. Nice gift shop. Had a 1 year old party here, option to have live animals as guests- everyone loved it! Zoo camo available during school breaks, worth it, kids love it. This zoo isn't humongous but has lots to offer.

I had not been to the Chaffee Zoo since they finished their expansion. The zoo was clean and well kept and the paths were easy to follow and navigate around the various exhibits. Signage for the food outlets could be better but overall I had a great experience and was able to take a lot of great photos.

Highlights include the bird show, the reptile house, the always fabulous African Adventure (w/ feeding the giraffes!). For anyone coming to Fresno for a visit, it is such an awesome zoo for both adults and kids.

My family loves the zoo. Fresno zoo is one of the best I've been to. My granddaughter loves to go. She especially likes feeding the giraffes. I have a grandparent pass so we go quite often. Love love love the new area. And it has a great reasturant area.

Did this with my grandkids. Food was VERY basic. Hot cakes, sausage, orange juice and tangerines. The only good thing was they had Starbucks! Nothing like the breakfast WITH the animals that was advertised. Animals were displayed outside the breakfast area. No directions were given. The characters that were walking around while we ate (Batman, Duck, and Cow) were rented. Not worth the money paid. My grandkids had more fun feeding the giraffes after the breakfast (which I paid for separately).

Exhibits are great. Its nice that there is a local zoo with a variety of animals. Atmosohere is awesome. The bird show is very enjoyable.

This ZOO has grown over the years to become what you'd expect to see in the "big" cities. And with the recent additions that include the African plains exhibit where the animals roam about freely, I can't say enough about it. I have been to Africa and gone on Safari. this experience closely replicates that experience of feeling like you're watching the animals in their natural habitat. kudos to those who have been behind this magnificent transformation... and it's in OUR town!

We love our zoo. It is big, open, and there are often babies we get to help name. The grandchildren love feeding the giraffes, and because we are members, get to visit often and enjoy each and every time. But make sure you plan a meal while there.salads are yummy, as are the burgers.

You’ve gotta see the Zoo at night! Zoo boo is well decorated for Halloween, wear your best costume. Be sure to bring a coat! Nocturnal animals are very active at night, while during the day they may be sleeping so you don’t always see them. You don’t want to miss the interaction among the Animal caretakers and the animals at the various shows. Plenty of fun games to play including the hay maze. Animal shows are fun and exciting with beautiful lighting. Prepare to be amazed!

Took our grandchild to the zoo and is always a great place to visit and learn. Weekdays are not crowded and still the staff was helpful throughout the zoo. Had lunch in the African Savannah area and was very good food with a wide selection and not too bad of prices. Very enjoyable day.

I’m kind od a zoo freak,wherever we go I look for the local zoo. I then rate them on several points. I give this one a 4 out of 5. We loved the African exihibit it was very well done. It was easy to get around although the map was a bit confusing. If you’re in the area go to this zoo, you won’t be sorry.

I love our zoo. I will be attending it again in next couple of weeks. Taking our church kids for the day. Has lots of new animals to see and they have redone several exhibits. Great zoo!!!!!!!!!

Went with a group of family for the day and really enjoyed my time there. The dinosaur tour was probably the best part for the kids to see. The adults and kids had fun feeding the giraffes, and the stingray feeding was scary, but exciting. The only problem was that not everyone had masks (the really young children) and we had to avoid some high traffic zones. The good thing was that a nice lady at the sting ray payment box gave us masks for free (THANKS!) and it helped us out greatly.

An assortment of animals. Lots of walking required. Beauifully set up for the sake of the animals. We were traveling with an assortment group of people. We had seniors middle-aged toddlers. We stopped to have ice cream and enjoyed it. There are plenty of spots to sit. There are shady spots to sit and rest. There is food available. But more than anything there is a variety of animals. The children were thrilled to see them all. Our favorite part was feeding that giraffe. We are looking forward to returning.

We went to the zoo for my birthday. It wasn't crowded because school was still in session. We had to see the African Adventure. It was amazing! Be sure to have your lunch in the restaurant there. You'll feel like you're RIGHT THERE with the animals!

The Fresno Zoo is very impressive. Well maintained, lots of animals. So much better now then when I was a kid. My great nieces love going there.

First off we are from San Diego so maybe it is not fair for us to rate zoos, but I love zoos and have been to many and this just ranked very low for me. Very small we were in and out in less than two hours without any more to see 🤷🏼‍♂️

Zoo is prety nice. We were there with 4 year old kid, and it was lot of fun. We were there 4 hours. Recommend it.

The grandkids had a blast here.Okay,the grandparents did too!!
Feeding the giraffes is well worth the small cost watching the littles face light up in enjoyment.A lot has been done to this zoo in the last few years and it shows.Most animals have large enclosures and the animal enrichment shows.
The baby monkey born last week was a highlight.The African exhibit is huge and the animals can actually roam on numerous acres.You can eat here and watch rhinos,elephants,ostrich and other animals.
Also the Jurassic Park exhibit was much better than I expected.There’s a $4 fee but worth it.The animals appear lifelike and sound real too.Two more weeks and it’s gone,so hurry and come see it.
A lot for the kids to see and do.We will have to come back soon and do the rest of the zoo.

The Chaffee Park Zoo is excellent in all respects. It is large (but not huge), with a definite feeling of being in Africa or Asia, many different types of animals which you can mostly get quite up-close to, and also a "savannah" with animals roaming uncaged. Almost every half hour there is a talk focusing on a specific type of animal by its keepers; very interesting. Stayed from noon until closing at 4PM, then we liked it so much we returned and spent the whole next day there.

First time visiting the Chaffee Zoo, took the Grandkids to see the Zoo and the Zoorassic Park attraction. Overall thought it was a good day spent with the kids and they enjoyed the Zoo and Zoorassic park. We especially enjoyed the Serengeti Plains area, which had the elephants, lions, etc ... all out in the open sharing the space, was fun to watch the animals in their somewhat natural habitat. Unfortunately due to the Covid 19, many of the indoor attractions were closed, so we did not get to experience the whole Zoo. But what we did see, was enjoyable, the only knock from the adult point of view was the Zoorassic park exhibit, with the mechanical dinosaurs, which as an adult was a bit disappointed that it was not set up better, it mostly appears to be an area that they set up the dinosaurs to take up some space, hope that they build it out and take care and add some more things to make it better, believe there are a number of things that they could do, that would make it very good. If going for the day, expect to walk about a total of 5 miles through the park to see everything, as it is a bit large. There are a couple of places to get something to eat and drinks, as well as several vending machines scattered around with water and soda's for sell. We decided to have lunch at the "Cafe" and was surprised that the prices were very reasonable for food. Also if deciding to purchase a soda, get the Souvenir cup for $5 instead of $3.50 for a regular soda, and you get refill's for $1 while at the park. Overall thought it was a nice afternoon out for the family, as we spent about 4 1/2 hrs to see everything, if the indoor exhibit's were open, sure we would have added about another hour.

This was a great zoo! Much bigger than expected with a wide variety of animals. The exhibits were arranged so that there were several viewing stations and we never had a problem seeing the animals. Feeding the giraffes was a huge hit ($3 extra after admission) and well worth it. A must see when in the Fresno area, and we will certainly return.

Fresno has a very nice zoo! Family friendly and feeding the giraffe was a BIG hit! Very nice Christmas decorations and plenty of photo ops.

Love the newer exhibits which are pretty amazing to have in Fresno. Buying the annual pass is a no brainer and each visit is a little different. So much to see and do.

Nice place to take the grandchildren. Plan on spending at least four hours at the zoo, there's so much to see.

The Fresno Zoo has becoming a must see in Fresno, with the new African Safari Lands with its wonderful animals, and a great restaurant for lunch!! What a difference from the old zoo. larger free range exhibits for the animals, new animals, and a great open air feel to the entire place. Used to only go there for an hour at max now we spend over 3 hours and look forward to lunch at the new Safari cafe!!

My family loves this zoo. It's affordable but awesome. They keep adding new and amazing things. Perfect size. Not too big not too small. Great for a fun day trip to get away. And it's always really clean.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo has improved over the years and I love the beautiful grounds and fun stingray pool that the kiddos can play and interact with. I am so happy that there have been so many wonderful renovations because I remember going to the zoo over 40 years ago as a child and it's nice to see it has improved over time unlike so many other childhood memories that are now long gone.Enjoy!!!

Loved the day! So many fun things for the kids to do. enjoyed the day with my 2 kids therebis still lots of construction but what is there is well kept and beautifully done

I took my grandchildren to the zoo I have two special needs grandchildren. Two little little guys one in a wheelchair I was charged an adult price for them due to they are 30 to 40 years old but they have the mentality of a three year old I was really irritated with that being charged as adult tickets. Due to being Cinco the Mayo the parking the fee was increased. I really like the Safari area or the children can feed the giraffes and also the new water area that they put in other than that there was a lot of empty spaces in the zoo I had took one of my grandchildren two years back and I really really enjoyed this location there was a lot of animals but when we went yesterday there was a lot of empty spots when I go back again no

I went here in July 2019. July is a very hot month, but the heat didn’t bother us because when I say we were in “AWE” of this place, we were! This was our first time and we can’t wait to go back. This place has something for everyone. From watching the chimpanzee flying overhead in the money house with a full-size orangutan to entering a petting the goats, sheep, chickens, etc. in their house this place was a GREAT experience. The staff was there when we entered the yard/section where the goats, sheep, chickens, ETC., were house and we never felt threatened. Wow, there is just so much to tell. But the Piece de resistance was when we walked to the African Savanna Adventure and from the distance, as we walked toward it, it really looked like we walking to the African Savanna. Once we entered the “Massively” huge African Hut inspired “Food Eatery” complete with beautiful “African Music” piped in, so realistically that everyone said it feels like we went to African. My family and I can’t wait to go back.

Try to plan your trip early in the day. Fresno can get into the triple digits during the summer. You are going to LOVE this zoo

The zoo was fun and had lots of animals to see. For the most part animals situated so they could easily be seen. Zoo seemed a little small, but still fun for few hours.

What a fabulous zoo! The Africa exhibit is so artfully done and the animals are free to wander. The cafe has delicious food. The staff is friendly and helpful. We are eager to see the new Southeast Asia exhibit.

These guys are on a roll! This was our first visit - a fairly cool, drizzly day (so not inviting). But the warmth of the staff more than compensated. They are really remodeling like crazy, and to judge from the newer exhibits, this zoo - while already great - will be entering world-class competition in a couple years. We particularly liked the informal ranger talks that are scheduled every half hour to hour throughout the park - they are well worth chatting up the staff! Very informative with lots of little tidbits, especially with respect to the zoo and its collection. As this zoo is working on birthing new members of endangered species, the staff are very rich in that discussion. We were grand-child-less this trip, but we can't wait to bring her next visit. Keep it up, Fresno Chaffee! (Note on visit time - we were there a bit under 2 hours and did not intend to see everything - you could easily pass half a day or longer in a thorough visit.)

I remember going here along time ago with my sisters family. I took my kids here and they loved it ! The animals looked happy and the staff were friendly. I would recommend this zoo to any traveling family or even locals .

Diverse collection of animals! Well managed park with friendly staff and clean facilities! We enjoyed a full day of family fun and educational activities.

For a small, local zoo, there was much to like! The thememing was fantastic! When you entered Asia, it was like finding tigers wandering around an ancient temple. The African savanah was by far one of the best elephant, girraffe, rhino and impala enclosures I've ever seen. It sits open into a massive open-air dining hall. Imagine being able to sit down for a meal and watching animals wandering right in front of you! And there are other viewing areas as well with comfortable chairs and a fireplace for cooler night events. The area where you buy food in the savanah was spotless!!! You could have eaten off the floor! The animal varieties were good and their enclosures clean. This was a nice way to spend an hour or two.

You are thinking , “what are we doing this weekend?” You want to stay away from the big city crowds.. Head over to the Fresno Zoo! We got to the Zoo on a Saturday around 11 in the morning .

Parking was $5 dollars and a small walk to the entrance of the zoo.

We purchased the pass which included, feeding the Giraffe , touching the Stingrays, and also Zoorassic Park(animatronic dinosaur).

There is a good amount of snakes but the one I got goosebumps was the King Cobra. Surprise by how long they are..

In the Tropical treasure section there is a cool small orange monkey and a sloth too.

We got to touch the big Stingrays . Stingrays are about 3 feet wide!!

Zoorassic is pretty cool too.. Gives you a good idea how big the dinosaurs were.

Harbor seal is real nice too. There was a show with the seals doing some tricks.

I was amazed at the Africa Adventure attraction! You can see rhinos , elephants, lions, and also got to feed the giraffes. Kids loved feeding the giraffes!

This Zoo is really nice and surprised with all the animals it has.

It took us about 3 hours to make our way around the park.

Family had fun at the Zoo!!

Other recommendations

• After all the walking time to eat,
El Patio Mexican food. Cool spot, good food.

• Underground Garden, man builds his home underground early 1900.

• Hotel Best Western Airport, clean , good breakfast and coffee.

Fantastic day, the sloth has the right attitude to Fresno/California life. Staff and facilities were great. A very friendly visit

Visit the seal exhibit and the safari exhibit. The food is not very good and very high priced. Go on weekdays when it is less crowded. If you see school buses, just go home and visit another time.

WIth the recent renovations, the Chaffee Zoo is the best little zoo ever. The best part is the entry fees are so low and an annual pass well worth it. You can walk the entire zoo in 1-2 hours, depending on how long you stay at each exhibit. I like to take a long lunch and go visit the newer African Safari exhibit with the lions, elephants, and rhinos.

There are so many new animals. The African area is our favorite area. The restaurant there is very good. The zoo is never too busy, but if you want really good parking get there early!

Fresno is the most amazing city in the world wow I HAVE NEVER SEEN such a magnificent place. This zoo had animals and I like animals.

Had a great time with my granddaughters. They had been there a couple of times and were eager to show me around and see all of the attractions. They love the Reptile House and the monkeys. Enjoyed feeding the giraffes and the stingrays.
Will definitely come again.

I gave it a 5 without comparing it to larger zoos in larger cities. The kids loved it. Roo Walk was closed down but it did not take away from the good time. We will go back when we return to Fresno to visit!

The zoo is surprisingly nice with a good variety of exhibits - primates, lions, giraffes, and even sea lions. It's also fairly large and spread out, so bring your walking shoes! The pavilion to buy food/eat under is next to an Africa themed exhibit and was really cool. It's really neat and reminded me of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The only reason I didn't rate the zoo better is because the area it's in is gross. Depending on how you get here, you could end up driving past a row of run-down motels with drug addicts and prostitutes hanging around outside. Also leaving my car in the parking lot made me a little hesitant. I'm sure it's fine, but I didn't feel too comfortable about walking back to it in the late afternoon when there weren't many other people around.

It’s a wonderful place, gorgeous wildlife well maintained, easy access. Family friendly, staff is friendly and so are the giraffes!

I am not a fan of zoos but this one has made great progress and is pleasant. New asian area is great

I have not gone to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. They have done so much to modernize and enhance the zoo. Love the new exhibits replacing some of the older less visitor friendly animal exhibits.

We have been to the zoo several times and love it, but we have wanted to see it at night during the Christmas season. This year, we got to do it. The Zoo Lights are amazing. We bought the fun glasses through which to look at the lights. We got one of each, and our grandchildren loved them. There was so much to see and do. Santa Claus was nice to sit for pictures hour after hour, and we got great pictures of our family. Then, there was a craft-making event for the kids. They made very cool ornaments for the tree, and the kids were totally engrossed in that activity. Even adults could make an ornament! The food was great, as always, and it was a total Christmas experience!

The Central Valley isn't the first place you think of going to the zoo. That is unless you live here and have grown with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Over the last few years the zoo has spent a lot of money updating and renovating it exhibits. The new seal and sea lion show and exhibit is wonderful. Also the latest African Savanna expansion is great. It's an entirely open savanna type area with free roaming elephants, rhinos, ostriches, and many other animals.

World-class zoo in Fresno. Walking around and listening to the animals is so relaxing. Amazing exhibits from the reptile house to the African safari where you feel like you're on the Serengeti. Great ANY time of the day. (fyi...park fee entrance at +/- $5)

What a wonderful experience seeing innovative ways of caring for zoo animals. Have been visiting this zoo since the 1940's and am amazed at the changes.

Well....my experience was unique. I caught a bus, with a transfer to get here from the airport. Plan on at least an hour taking the bus, but it was $1.25 fare! The zoo had no electricity, so I did miss out on seeing some animals. The $12.95 admission is reasonable for what you can see. Their orangetangs were fabulously funny and entertaining. Their African Exhibit is new and well done. For the 31 acres, they have done a nice job bringing in quite a variety of animals. If you are pulling a suite case, there are some dirt paths to deal with.